White goods disposal in Brighton: your complete guide

Your options at a glanceSection titled Your%20options%20at%20a%20glance

The right route mostly comes down to whether the appliance still works. If a fridge, washer or cooker still runs, selling or donating it gets it reused and often costs nothing. If it's broken or beyond repair, you're choosing between taking it to a recycling centre yourself, booking a paid Brighton & Hove City Council collection, or having a private team come and take it away.

Sell or donate appliances that still workSection titled Sell%20or%20donate%20appliances%20that%20still%20work

Selling locallySection titled Selling%20locally

Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are the two places most Brighton sellers try first, and both work well for appliances that still run properly. List the make, model, age and any faults honestly, add a few clear photos, and set the price low enough that a buyer with a van sees it as worth collecting the same week — a working washing machine or fridge-freezer that's a few years old typically sells for a fraction of its new price, or goes for free if you just want it gone quickly.

Be upfront that the buyer arranges their own transport and, ideally, their own disconnection — most private buyers expect to unplug and carry the item themselves. Agreeing a specific collection window and having the appliance clean, defrosted (for fridges and freezers) and ready to move will get it off your hands faster.

Donating to charitySection titled Donating%20to%20charity

The British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical Store on London Road in Brighton sells donated washing machines, fridges, dishwashers and other appliances, and offers a free home collection for furniture and electrical items you book online — or you can drop items off at the store. As with any charity, items need to be in good, working, saleable condition; it's worth calling ahead if you're unsure whether a particular appliance will be accepted.

Emmaus Sussex, based in Portslade and covering Brighton & Hove, also takes donated furniture and electrical appliances to sell in its shops, with the proceeds supporting formerly homeless residents living and working at the community. Larger items, including appliances, can qualify for a free collection booked through their online form, though the team has final discretion on what they can take, and everything needs to be in a genuinely saleable condition.

Take them to a recycling centreSection titled Take%20them%20to%20a%20recycling%20centre

Brighton & Hove City Council runs two Household Waste Recycling Sites (also known as tips) — one off Old Shoreham Road in Hove (BN3 7AE) and one in Whitehawk, off Wilson Avenue in Brighton (BN2 5PA). Both take large electrical items including fridges, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers, free of charge, alongside general household waste and recycling.

There's no need to book, but you do need to bring the right documents to get through the gate. If you arrive by car, staff may ask to see photo ID showing your Brighton & Hove address plus a matching proof of residency dated within the last three months, such as a council tax bill, tenancy agreement or utility bill. Van users need two forms of ID and proof of local residency, and hired vans also need the rental agreement — the sites are for local residents' household waste rather than trade use, and there are size and weight restrictions on the vehicles allowed in. Full details are on the council's access requirements page.

Book a Brighton & Hove City Council bulky waste collectionSection titled Book%20a%20Brighton%20%26%20Hove%20City%20Council%20bulky%20waste%20collection

Brighton & Hove City Council's phone-booked bulky waste service will collect fridges, freezers, washing machines and other white goods, but appliances are priced separately from the general sliding scale used for furniture and other bulky items. Items need to be left ready and accessible on a driveway, in the garden, or just inside the front door — the crew won't come further into the property, and won't collect from the pavement or street. Booking is by phone on 01273 292 929, and during busy periods slots have been running three to four weeks ahead — see the council's large and electrical household item collection page for current details.

Retailer take-back when you buy newSection titled Retailer%20take-back%20when%20you%20buy%20new

If you're replacing an appliance, most large retailers will take the old one away when they deliver the new one. Currys offers old appliance removal on delivery for a small additional charge — from around £15, added to your order as a recycling service — and also runs free tech and appliance recycling drop-off at its stores, whether or not you bought the item there. AO.com offers a Remove & Recycle add-on when they deliver your new appliance, taking the old one away the same day, and a standalone Collect & Recycle service, priced from £30 per item, if you're not buying a replacement from them.

Terms vary by retailer and by order — some deliveries include removal free as standard, others charge, and fridges or freezers usually need to be defrosted and disconnected before collection. It's worth checking the exact terms at checkout before assuming an old appliance will be taken away for free.

Let a local team collect them for youSection titled Let%20a%20local%20team%20collect%20them%20for%20you

A private collection tends to make the most sense when an appliance is still plumbed in, you're in an upstairs flat with no lift, you need it gone this week rather than in three to four weeks, or you've got several appliances or a whole kitchen to clear at once. Brighton Rubbish Removal handles the disconnection, carrying and licensed disposal in one visit, so nobody in the household needs to lift a fridge or washing machine down a flight of stairs.

Which route fits your situationSection titled Which%20route%20fits%20your%20situation

Related servicesSection titled Related%20services

• White Goods Disposal
• Furniture Removal
• Rubbish Removal